Quetiapine generic fumarate extended-release tablets (canadian Seroquel XR, AstraZeneca) are now available as a once-daily medication for schizophrenia in adults. With this formulation, patients can achieve a dose within the recommended range as early as the second day of treatment.

The FDA’s approval was based on a clinical trial of Seroquel XR at doses of 400, 600, and 800 mg/day.

The previously recommended initial dose was 25 mg twice daily with increments of 25 to 50 mg twice or three times daily on the second and third days, as tolerated, to a target dose range of 300 to 400 mg daily by the fourth day, given twice or three times per day.

The product includes two boxed warnings: one concerns elderly patients with dementia-related psychoses, and the other mentions a risk of suicidality in children and adolescents.

Asenapine tablets (Saphris, Schering-Plough) have been approved to treat both schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder in adults.

A boxed warning is included to alert prescribers about an increased risk of death associated with the off-label use of this atypical antipsychotic medication for treating behavioral problems in older people with dementia-related psychosis. Asenapine is not approved for these patients.

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